EV charging fraud prevention: expert insights from Plugsurfing and CRIF

It’s an intimidating challenge. But the good news is that you’re not powerless – far from it. By tightening financial controls, simplifying systems, and sharing insights openly, we can build a more secure and resilient charging ecosystem. 

We recently hosted a webinar on this very topic. In this piece, we’ll share some of the key takeaways from that session on EV fraud prevention: the challenges we’re all facing, why they’re accelerating, and the practical steps we can take together to stay secure. 

Understanding the problem 

Our webinar brought together three industry experts – Ben Kegler, our product lead for EV, Matthew Lapsley, product manager at Plugsurfing, and Jens Schoengen, senior key account manager at CRIF – to discuss the main types of fraud CPOs (and EV drivers) face today and how these risks are evolving. 

• Account takeover and identity fraud: Criminals use stolen credentials, often from phishing or data breaches, to authorize charging sessions. This is increasingly common as more users sign up for charging apps and payment wallets.  

• Charge manipulation: Tariffs can be bypassed or altered by exploiting weak system configurations. Even small manipulations at scale can add up to significant losses. 

• Fake invoices and billing fraud: Operators managing large fleets are vulnerable to invoice tampering, particularly when multiple back-office systems are involved. 

• Non-payment and chargebacks: Failed payments and disputed transactions create losses that ripple through finance and customer service teams. 

As Ben put it during the webinar, “The hockey stick effect in EV charging is real: Transactions are going up, regulations are increasing, and that complexity opens the door to fraud.” 

By “hockey stick,” he is referring to the steep growth curve we’ve seen across the EV ecosystem. For several years, progress was relatively slow – but as adoption accelerated, transaction volumes began to shoot upward, just like the sharply rising blade of a hockey stick. 

In Europe, the number of public charging points has swelled by more than 35% in 2024 (compared to 2023), to reach just over 1 million. And with more charging points comes more transactions – and, consequently, more opportunities for exploitation. 

Why EV charging fraud is on the increase 

Fraud isn’t rising because there are more scammers around. The EV charging ecosystem has inherent flaws – so the more it grows, the more vulnerable it becomes. The panel highlighted three forces at play: 

• Volume growth: Criminals follow the money, and the EV market is now a lucrative target. In the first seven months of 2025, 1,011,903 new EVs were registered in the EU (a 15.6% market share and an increase from 13.8% in the first half of 2024). As more EVs hit the road, charging transactions scale exponentially.
• System complexity: Most operators rely on a patchwork of solutions: back-office billing, roaming networks, customer apps, and payment providers. On average, companies use eight different solutions to manage fraud, and each integration creates another potential weak spot.
• Regulatory change: Frameworks such as mandatory e-invoicing bring transparency but also add new processes and digital touchpoints. These can be exploited if controls are inconsistent across systems. 

The ketchup effect in practice 

The "ketchup effect" – a term coined by former Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche – describes how the adoption of electric vehicles would unfold. Long periods of slow progress followed by a sudden rush, much like shaking a ketchup bottle, only to have it gush out all at once. 

Just as real EV adoption built up slowly before exploding into the mainstream, fraud schemes in the EV sector may follow the same path: small and scattered at first, then surging as the industry grows, attracts more money and creates more opportunities for fraud. 

Growth in EV adoption is coming no matter what. And as it speeds up and transaction numbers jump, fraud attempts can rise quickly and catch you off guard. 

Security by design 

Prevention is always more effective than reaction. The webinar speakers offered several approaches to embedding fraud resilience into operations: 

• Continuous monitoring: Track real-time data across charging sessions and payments. Sudden spikes, repeated small-value charges, or mismatched geographies should trigger alerts. 

• System simplification: Streamline the number of systems you use. Each integration adds complexity, so consolidate where possible into platforms with strong security protocols. 

• Strong accounting practices: Reconcile transactions daily, set clear thresholds for manual review, and ensure finance teams have visibility into operational data. 

• Staff awareness: Fraud prevention isn’t just IT’s responsibility. Finance, operations, and customer support teams need training to spot anomalies. 

• Cross-industry collaboration: Many fraud schemes emerge across operators. By sharing data and trends, the sector can collectively raise resilience. 

Designing with security in mind from the outset is always more cost-effective than trying to bolt it on later. This is particularly important as charging networks expand rapidly and legacy processes risk being left behind. 

As Matthew put it on the webinar: “Fraud is not just a technical issue. It is about having the right accounting controls in place. If your books and your systems do not line up, you will always be on the back foot.” 

Strong financial processes – reconciliation, anomaly detection, and clear reporting – are essential. They aren’t just administrative tasks; they are part of your defence strategy. Jens also added: “If your systems don’t talk to each other, you are not protected.” 

Actionable takeaways from the speakers 

Each participant closed with a core message for the audience: 

• Matthew Lapsley: Focus on your financial backbone. Controls in accounting and reconciliation are as critical as firewalls and encryption. 

• Jens Schoengen: Data visibility is key. You cannot protect what you cannot see, and blind spots in the transaction chain are where fraud thrives. 

• Ben Kegler: Prevention must be part of your operating model. Treat fraud management as a design principle, not an optional add-on. 

Taken together, the message is clear: Fighting EV charging fraud requires alignment between finance, operations, and IT. 

Get ready for the future 

EV adoption is accelerating, infrastructure investment is surging, and digital payments are at the heart of this ecosystem. With this comes risks that’ll only intensify. 

As mass adoption of EVs ramps up, the charging ecosystem will be a prime target for cybercrime. You still have time to get ahead of the curve – but that time is running out fast.